JoeSoChallenges

Some, like Matt Cutts in this TED talk (see below), suggest that it takes about 30 days to make (or break) a habit. They don't necessarily mean an addictive habit, like smoking, but getting in the habit of doing something positive that you've always wanted to do. He says that if you "force" yourself to do something for 30 days, like exercise for an hour a day, you can create a new habit. As it becomes habit, it gets easier and easier to keep doing. You build up some momentum and make it semi-permanent. You just have to get through the hardest part -- the beginning. 

He makes some other great points too. After doing some of these 30-day challenges he observed that the passing of time -- month by month -- became much more memorable. It gave him a way to think about that time period -- the month I ate no meat, the month I read instead of watching TV, etc. That part of it appeals to me as much as anything since I consider myself both a dabbler and a 'documentor,' so to speak. Doing these challenges combines both documenting and dabbling -- all in an effort to improve yourself as a person. I love it.

A friend of mine recently mentioned he and his wife have planned out some challenges for the new year -- no meat in January, using 1 car instead of 2 in February, and so forth. So I decided to start with no alcohol this month. Ten days in, so far so good, and I think I'll have a fairly easy time finishing this one out.

Next I plan on reading at least 30 minutes a day, which I think I'll have no problem with, since I used to have that habit anyway. Cutts says to think about it this way: you can do anything for 30 days. Start with some easy ones. Build up your confidence. In March I want to do morning stretch + no caffeine, then follow that up in April with daily exercise. I made a spreadsheet to track each challenge each month, and then I can also use the chart to mark off days that I keep up a habit after the month is over. So, if I do no TV for 30 days, then I can continue marking off days in the future that I don't watch TV. That gives me a way to follow up with the "new habit" once the initial 30 day period ends. Besides, I just love to create data in spreadsheet format. 

Perhaps after a lifetime of 30 day challenges I can create the JoeSoHabits Data Base.